Rhode Island will remain in Phase 3 until vaccine is distributed, Gov. Raimondo says
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Rhode Island will remain in Phase 3 of reopening for several more months, Governor Gina Raimondo said, until a vaccine is distributed.
In a statement to ABC6, Raimondo’s press secretary Audrey Lucas said certain restrictions will be eased when it’s safe, but the state will not move into Phase 4 anytime soon.
“We do not anticipate a wholesale move beyond Phase 3 until a vaccine has been distributed. That said, as we continue to closely monitor the spread of this virus, we will take a targeted approach to easing certain restrictions—particularly for businesses—whenever safely possible,” Lucas wrote.
With life remaining status quo for some time, it will have an impact on many industries, like the entertainment industry. The Wilbury Theatre Group in Providence is just one example.
“It’s a hard time to be in the theatre right now and really any live entertainment, where, bringing people together for a shared experience is the point of what you do.”
Josh Short is the artistic director of the Wilbury Theatre Group. They’ve been putting on outdoor performances since August, but with the cold weather coming, it’s not sustainable. They’re hoping to last outdoors until December.
“Nobody wants to open before it’s safe to do so, but it is a little disheartening.”
In Phase 4, they possibly would have been allowed to reopen their indoor theatre to live performances.
Short said his team is planning radio shows with audio dramas for the colder months, but it’s hard to make money doing that.
“That stuff is not necessarily financially viable, so that’s more of like a short-term Band-Aid when you’re not allowed to do anything else,” Short said. “We were able to get a PPP loan back in April or May, so that helped a little bit and there’s been some support from RISCA, through the NEA grant that went out, again, back in May, but all of that support is long gone at this point, and, yeah, when’s the next round of support coming I think is the question on everybody’s mind.”
Short said they have a dedicated following that’s been supporting their work, but to survive much longer in Phase 3, they’ll need more help than they’re currently getting.
“I think whether arts organizations like ours are here after this pandemic ends, that’s really up to, you know, the people of Rhode Island, to the people in the Governor’s office. I mean, if they want us to be here, then they need to support us through this.”
© WLNE-TV 2020
